CEBU, Philippines — It’s fitting that the name of Stray Kids’ fourth world tour is “dominATE” because they truly ate and left no crumbs during their November 23 show at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
One thing to take note of when seeing the K-pop boy group in concert: it’s harder to sit down throughout their entire set than to stand up.
When the group instructs their fans, collectively known as STAYs (a nod to their tagline “You make Stray Kids stay”) to jump, they follow suit. When leader Bang Chan requests them to stand, they rise without hesitation. This happened after he noticed fans in the lower box seats sitting down.
“It’s fine, you guys can sit down. But later, we are going to need you guys to stand up,” the Korean-Australian idol said at the start of their nearly three-hour-long concert.
While they specifically asked their STAYs to stand for their debut track “District 9” following their first 'ment' (talking segment), most fans remained standing for the rest of the concert. The only times they sat were during quick transitions or when the members were talking.
This wasn’t Stray Kids’ first time at the Philippine Arena. They attended the Asia Artist Awards last year, where Melai Cantiveros delivered her hilarious speech while accepting her award for Best Actress. Fans fondly recall the members, especially Chan, being amused by her speech.
Although they didn’t mention that moment, the group did bring up the humorous incident when rapper Han was in the bathroom when 3RACHA (the group’s hip-hop unit consisting of Chan, Han, and Changbin) was announced as the winner of the Best Creator Award and they were asked to come to the stage.
The group — completed by Lee Know, Hyunjin, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. — made sure to deliver fan service for their Filipino STAYs. They greeted fans in Tagalog, showered them with endless “mahal ko kayo” declarations, praised Filipinos’ natural singing and dancing talents, and Chan mentioning that he enjoyed eating kare-kare.
A standout fan service moment came when Felix danced to the viral TikTok track “Emergency Budots.” “I had to do it because it’s the Philippines that made it, right?” Felix remarked. The rest in the group joined in, as they asked fans to chant “Paging Dr. Beat / Emergency, emergency” while they danced.
It wasn’t just Pinoys in attendance. At Section 106 in the lowerbox seats, I was seated between two Russian fans on my left and two Japanese fans on my right. Outside the arena, I spotted other international Stays.
I told the Russian fans to expect loud cheers from Filipino fans, which excited them since previous concerts they’d attended were quieter. As the concert culture in Japan tends to be more reserved, I warned the Japanese fans in advance so they wouldn’t be caught off guard by the endless screams.
Hopefully, the foreigners who experienced this concert in the Philippines saw firsthand why Filipino fans deserve to see their favorite artists more often as concertgoing culture continues to grow post-pandemic.
Full of energetic bops
As Stray Kids continue their meteoric rise, the setlist for “dominATE” is packed with their upbeat hits and fan favorites that define the group’s signature sound and aesthetic. This dynamic mix turned the Philippine Arena into a fusion of a nightclub and a music festival, delivering an electrifying experience.
The show opened with “Mountains,” “Thunderous,” and “JJAM,” followed by a ten-minute 'ment' leading into tracks like “District 9” and “Back Door.” This continued with the equally-energetic section consisting of “Chk Chk Boom”, “Topline”, “Super Bowl”, “Complex” and “LALALALA.”
The most high-octane part came when they performed “Get Lit,” “Item,” “Domino,” “God’s Menu,” and “S-Class” back-to-back without breaks. After another ten-minute 'ment', the group launched into “Venom” and “Maniac.”
Fans know the eight-member group thrives on high-energy performances, but seeing them in person as they effortlessly deliver multiple EDM/hip-hop tracks live was awe-inspiring. It’s hard not to feel proud of how far they’ve come since their 2018 debut.
They kept the energy alive in its encore with “Miroh,” the festival remix of “Chk Chk Boom,” and “Megaverse”— the latter performed for the first time on this tour since it started in August.
Solo stages
Each member showcased their unique personalities and talents in their solo stages, offering a glimpse into how they presented themselves as performers.
Lee Know brought playful energy with “Youth,” Seungmin moved the audience with the ballad “As We Are,” and Han exuded rockstar vibes in “Hold My Hand.”
Fans couldn’t get enough of Hyunjin and I.N.’s sultry appeal in “So Good” and “Hallucination,” while Felix and Changbin delivered power-packed performances of “Unfair” and “Ultra,” respectively.
The most anticipated solo was Bang Chan’s performance of “Railway.” As he revealed his topless physique — his back bearing visible red marks — the arena erupted into deafening cheers.
The members shared playful banter while explaining their solo tracks, which will be available to stream through their mixtape “HOP” on December 13.
“My song is about life,” Hyunjin said cryptically, drawing laughter from fans for being literal with their explanation. Han quipped, “It’s about holding your hand,” referencing his track’s title.
Chan seemed shy to elaborate on what his song “Railway” is about, despite revealing his psyche earlier. Felix quipped, “You gotta show the fans your sexy body again.”
When Felix explained that “Unfair” was inspired by Beauty and the Beast, Chan playfully teased, asking who Felix’s Belle was. Felix cheekily pointed to the audience, prompting Chan to joke, “Hey! No rizzing in the arena, okay?”
Playful banter like this is what makes K-pop concerts fun to watch, and Stray Kids are masters of it all. It’s entertaining to see the group teasing each other while their fans eagerly watch, even amidst the energetic songs they still need to perform for the rest of the concert.
As with most K-pop concerts, this one had an intermission — but only for the group —as the “STAY CAM” segment was introduced. Audience members participated in dance challenges featuring some of the group’s iconic hits, as well as a sing-along segment for “TOPLINE.”
A few notable personalities were spotted on-screen during the segment. Actress Dawn Zuleta cheered on her daughter Ayisha, who danced to “God’s Menu,” while “A Very Good Girl” and “Un/happy for You” director Peterson Vargas was seen singing along with his friends.
Eternally STAY
The concert had its mellow moments with tracks like “Twilight” and “Lonely St.,” performed on a cellular network-like platform before going back to the main stage for the latter track.
The group also delivered a heartfelt rendition of their titular song “Stray Kids,” first with a live band and later a cappella alongside fans.
Toward the end, a surprise fan video tribute played on the stage screens, showcasing heartfelt messages from Filipino STAYs, emphasizing their loyalty as “Eternal Stays.”
Visibly moved, the members sang “Cover Me” for their fans which was the song played in the tribute video.
“There are so many beautiful words you showed us. This whole Stray Kids adventure we are sharing together is a memory we want to remember forever,” Chan said. “If it wasn’t for you guys, everything would have been a nightmare. Thank you for existing. Like you said as eternal stays, we also eternally love you guys back.”
As a STAY since 2021 during their “Thunderous” era, hearing Chan express his gratitude toward Filipino fans felt deeply personal. His role as a caring leader to the other seven members and their fans has always stood out, making the bond between Stray Kids and STAYs genuinely unique and heartwarming.
Before performing their final batch of songs, the group promised to return. “We are obviously going to come back. I swear, we will be back. The Philippines is an amazing country. The energy you guys give to us is amazing,” Chan declared. — (FREEMAN)